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| Business Travel in Brazil |
| Sooner or later you may want to visit Brazil, a nation of 165 million people that is larger than the continental U.S. Most Fortune 500 have been there for many years |
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| Usual reasons for your first trip... |
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| Scheduling and Transportation |
Good planning and scheduling will be a key ingredient of a successful trip. Be aware of big holidays (especially Carnaval - same time as Mardi Gras) and school vacations (July, December, January and February). Be conservative about the quantity of meetings you can accomplish. Domestic air service in Brazil is reliable and safe, in some shorter routes it may be more advantageous to travel by land. Avoid dangerous roads (such as from São Paulo to Curitiba). If you plan to be in smaller cities, by all means talk to your hosts or people who know the area before finalizing your plans. In Brazil the main gateways are São Paulo and Rio de Janeiro. From these cities you can make connections to anywhere in the country, as well as to other countries in South America. Both São Paulo and Rio have 2 airports each; make sure you know which one you are flying into and from. If you are going to northern Brazil, there may be nonstop or direct flights from the United States and Europe to locations such as Manaus and Recife. Airlines that fly between the USA and Brazil include Varig, TAM, American, Continental, Delta and United. Service is very good, as these routes are generally big money makers for them. Most flights between the U.S. and Brazil (and between Europe and Brazil) depart at night with arrival early the next morning. That means you don't loose any business days, and you have plenty of connections upon arrival; however, you have to sleep in the plane. Miami - São Paulo takes 8 hours. When you buy a ticket to go to Brazil, check with the airline about costs of the various itineraries. It may be possible to add stopovers at no cost, as (for instance) the itineraries below can all cost the same, especially if you fly all segments on the same Brazilian carrier.
U.S. citizens need to get an entry visa from the Brazilian Embassy or Consulate that has jurisdiction over the State you live in. For info check www.brazilmiami.org. |
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| Phones |
You can rent a cell phone to use during your stay in Brazil. A good service is PressCell they will meet you at the airport. You can reserve the phone ahead of your trip, and know the number to give out before you go. The phone system in Brazil is reliable; it's easy to make and receive international calls. |
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| Money |
| VISA, MasterCard and AmEx are widely accepted. Many ATM's dispense cash with foreign cards, but (VERY important) check with your card issuer to know which ATM networks in Brazil work for you.
For up-to-date exchange rates, check www.bloomberg.com/sa/sahome.html |
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| Safety |
Be careful with your things; be careful in deciding where you go. Do not stand out by acting like a helpless tourist. Ask local contacts to assist you if necessary. If you go out in the evening, do it with people you know. If you need to be told NOT wear your Rolex in Brazil.....then you are being told now. |
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| São Paulo (city) |
São Paulo is the New York of Brazil: largest city and most important business center. If you do business in Brazil, sooner or later you will visit São Paulo. The metropolitan area of 15 million residents has the usual advantages and problems created by such a large mass of people. Weather is temperate - you can find forecasts at www.weather.com. Corporate offices are vastly spread out, and automobiles are the only way to move around. Schedule your meetings according to location, as you would do in Los Angeles. There are top hotels in different parts of town, so find out where in the city you need to be. Big name hotels are excellent and there are many good smaller hotels and flats or apart-hotels. "Motels" are only for extra-curricular purposes. São Paulo starts early and stays up late. Normal working hours are 8am to 6pm; lunch is at noon. Especially with foreign visitors, business lunches and dinners are the rule, so go on a diet before your trip. Business attire is equivalent to the U.S. (suits), but is becoming more informal (no tie, short sleeves). If in doubt, wear a suit. If possible, ask first. For local transport, don't even think of renting a car. Always ask suggestions from the people you will meet. Easiest way to get around is by cab. It may even be advantageous to hire a Taxi for hours or days as your need may be. Drivers will usually agree to take you on trips to locations within 2 or 3 hours driving; don't forget to negotiate the price ahead of time, and tip 10 to 15%. If feasible for you, a way to increase your productivity is to use a temporary office and invite people to come to come visit you. Check out the facilities that HQ has - several to choose from. Stores open at 9 am and close at 5 or 6 pm (later in malls), with no lunch break. Banks normally keep shorter hours. In Brazil there are no "siestas". |
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| Medium sized cities |
Brazil has many cities with population of 1 to 3 million. The business pace is more relaxed than in the mega centers (São Paulo and Rio), but many of the same business habits are followed. Lunch is 12 to 1; business meals are common, and the food is excellent. For a different twist, invite your Brazilian contacts for a business breakfast, productivity can be very good. Attire is more relaxed; wear a tie and jacket for your first meeting, but don't show off. If in doubt, ask your hosts for guidance - then dress slightly more formally than what they suggest. Medium sized cities have small airports, but relatively few flights, which are always full. Reconfirm by phone or in person, especially if changing flights. CHECK-IN EARLY. Cabs are the best option, even if you need to travel a few dozens of miles, taxis can accommodate you; your hosts or hotel personnel can help you find one and negotiate the price. Cab drivers speak only Portuguese, but will go out of their way to communicate with you and help you, as they rarely see foreigners and you may well be their topic of conversation for a week. A good tip (15%) can work wonders. |
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| Smaller cities |
In small cities you will depend more on your hosts. Access is by car from airports in nearby larger cities. Expect low productivity, so take some "office work" if you are going to be stuck in hotels between meetings. Expect to be invited for meals and visits to homes. Your success will be directly related to your ability to take advantage of these opportunities - this is when personal bonds are created. No matter how good your business proposal is, you must sell yourself first |